Instroke Tube Case Cleaning?

bencho

n00b
Silver Member
Hey,

Is there a way to clean the chalk/dust from the bottom of the tubes?
If so how?

Thanks
 
Tape a dry Swiffer to the end of your cue. Insert Swiffer and twist back and forth. They work well for me.
 
Not wanting to be a donkey but I would spin my tips on a carper, or whipe them down with a dry cotton cloth before putting them in your case. This prevent CHALK TRANSFER.

As far as how to fix you problem, John Barton JBCASES is like the Instroke expert, PM him for advise as he was the guy who at one time owned Instroke!
 
Ok thanks. That swiffer idea sounds great!
I had asked JB in another thread but never got an answer so I thought I'd make a thread for it specificaly.
When I first got it I forgot to clean the tip and now it's too late. I do make it a habit to clean the tip now though.
 
You can also use the wet swiffer depending on how your particular case was made. Just make sure to let it dry out before you close it.
 
I might try using some compressed air. Be careful that the air doesn't loosen any lining. I'd attach a 2 foot lenght of hose to the air source and lower it to the bottom of the case tube. If you try this, let us know how it turns out. Again, be careful.
 
Pull the tubes out...... Clean the bottom of the case with any of the above methods, clean the bottom of the tubes, reinstal the tubes.

If you are going to "wet" clean the inside of the case, make sure to let it properly dry/air out, before you close it, or put your cues back in.
 
Sorry Bencho I missed your question before. I never clean the tubes. When I did case repair I would often take the foam out of the bottom and they really aren't that dirty. When you put your cue into the case the fabric is not touching the top of the tip so the only place where chalk accumulates is on the foam rubber at the bottom of the tube.

I have always looked it as if I had a cube of chalk at the bottom of the case. I never wipe the chalk off my tip when I put it away because once I have it chalked like I want it I don't want to mess that up. Of course I do things differently than a lot of folks it seems.

If you really want to clean the bottom there are a few ways. Before you do anything you should look inside the tube and understand what you need to do. I use the little super bright l.e.d. flashlights to inspect tubes. With those you can see all the way to the bottom of most tubes clearly.

1. Carefully take the nails out of the bottom and remove the bottom cap Before taking out the endcap make a mark so that you know which direction is correct when you pu it back. Then using a razor make x slices in the tape at the bottom that holds the foam rubber in. Then use your cue to push the foam rubber out and clean. Replace the foam rubber, put a piece of tape over the end, replace the end cap and the nails.

2. You can do the aforementioned ideas about putting wet wipes and the like on the end of a stick but you need to be very careful of two things - one that you can pull out whatever you put in - what you think is secure before you stick it in the tube often works it's way loose far easier than you think. - and two that whatever you use won't leave a bunch of fibers in your tube as paper based cleaning cloths tend to do. I would use something like a terry cloth towel and just make it lightly damp.

3. to get general dust out you can take rubber bands and a plastic bag and use the rubber bands to seal the bag to the top of the case and seal the other side to a vaccuum tube and let it suck the dust out. This won't clean the foam rubber at the bottom.

4. You can buy a case where the tubes are easily removable by pulling on them from the top. Some market this as a feature. :-) Just kidding. It's not a feature but is instead a defect in design (unless you like to clean your tubes a lot).

5. You could just put something in the tubes to cover up the dirty layer - I'd suggest a small piece of squishy foam rubber. This won't take up any room - a mm at most and will be a nice clean surface for your shafts.

That's about all the advice I have on this. Hope it helps you.
 
Not wanting to be a donkey but I would spin my tips on a carper, or whipe them down with a dry cotton cloth before putting them in your case. This prevent CHALK TRANSFER.

As far as how to fix you problem, John Barton JBCASES is like the Instroke expert, PM him for advise as he was the guy who at one time owned Instroke!


I wouldn't spin my cue tip on the carpet. No telling what was there. I don't even like the butt end to rest on the floor.
 
always thought this was a bad idea

I wouldn't spin my cue tip on the carpet. No telling what was there. I don't even like the butt end to rest on the floor.

One thing wrong with it, it never has seemed like the nicest thing to do to the poolroom's carpet. The other issue is that I don't want all of the things that were on the bottom of people's shoes or spilt on the carpet ground into my cue tip. I wipe my tip on a paper towel or napkin or if neither one is handy I'll reach down and use the inside of my pant's leg down by the ankle to clean the tip.

Blue chalk, blue jeans, there has to be a reason for that right?

Hu
 
All great advice. I think I'll start carrying some paper towels or napkins for the tip. I really don't want to take the instroke apart so I'll probably try the vacuum and swiffer ideas when I get the chance. The main problem is that since I started putting the tip down, The ferrules have been getting dirtier, faster. I thought the chalk down there was getting on the ferrule as well. It's definitely not the way I chalk because I've learned to chalk on an angle to let the excess fall off.

Thank you all!
 
I wouldn't spin my cue tip on the carpet. No telling what was there. I don't even like the butt end to rest on the floor.


Mostly where I play in the community room is vacuumed daily, no smoking, no drink of any kins allowed, carper id always clean,and this why sometime I use an old t-shirt, or baby flannel to wipe the chalk off when away from there.
 
I have an instroke 2x2 and when i put my shafts away I put the joint down and tip up. Sure getting them out can be a pain but as long as you don't have big paws you can pull 'em out with a couple fingers. No chalk in my tubes.
 
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